No neutral ground

 Matt 27:24When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

 

Pilate had been warned by his wife that he shouldn’t have anything to do with this righteous man. Pilate tried to avoid that anything should happen to Jesus, but when he found out he was not able to do anything without causing a lot of trouble and consequences, he washed his hands, and told the people to do it. He said: You do it. I don’t want to be part. But by doing nothing, he had already chosen side. Pilate thought he could wash his hands, and stay neutral. But what he didn’t realize was that there is no neutral ground in the Kingdom of God. 

A lot of people have not taken any stand for or against. They want to stay neutral. They say things like: I will wait till I am dead. Then I will see if there is any God or not. Then I will find out the answers to my questions. Its not that I am against Jesus, I only choose not to take any side. I am either for or against him. I am neutral. Let the others criticize, and let the others blaspheme. I wash my hands… But there is no neutral ground in his Kingdom. Jesus said that he that is not with me is against me.

On the day of Pentecost this became very clear and evident, when Peter pointed his finger to the crowd and accused them for crucifying Jesus Christ. If you have not taken a stand FOR him, and been born again, you are on the same side as those who crucified him

When truth meets grace

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

 

The law was given by Moses, while grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. It could be said in another way: the law given by Moses revealed the truth… Because the law was Gods tool to reveal the truth about us, that we are sinners. Paul said it this way to the romans: “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law…” (Rom 7:7) In other words, if it hadn’t been for the law, I wouldn’t have known that I am a sinner. The law reveals who I truly am, and why I cant face God. If I face God with the “truth” about myself, his automatic reaction will be to reject me. Gods natural reaction will be wrath and judgment, because he is holy and just, and cant be in the presence of sin. I cannot face God with truth alone. I need another element. That’s the element Jesus added. He did not come with truth alone, but with truth and grace. When truth meets grace, it releases power. We need both! Not only grace, and not only truth, but truth AND grace.

Truth tells me who I am, but grace tells me who I will become.

Truth tells me what I deserve, grace tells me what I can get.

Truth reminds me of my past, but grace reminds me of my future.

Truth tells me that I am lost, but grace tells me I can be saved.

But in order for grace to come into effect, we must first embrace truth. Only when we take truth to grace it brings power and salvation. Repentance is first of all a confession of truth. A confession that I am a sinner and need Gods grace. Then I take my “truth” till Calvary and let truth meet grace. Then I receive peace. The Psalmist says it this way: ”Mercy and truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” (Psalm 85:10)

When truth meets grace, we receive the righteousness that was not given us by the law alone. Then we receive peace with God. 

But grace does not kiss a lie. That’s why a true biblical repentance is necessary. We need to come to the knowledge of truth. “…who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth…” (1 Tim 2:4)

 

When we see and acknowledge who we are, go to Jesus and ask for forgiveness, that’s when truth meets grace, and the result is righteousness and peace.

Når nåde møter sannhet

 Joh 1:17 For loven ble gitt ved Moses, nåden og sannheten kom ved Jesus Kristus.

 

Loven ble gitt ved Moses, mens nåden og sannheten kom ved Jesus Kristus. Hva var loven? Loven var Guds verktøy for å åpenbare for oss sannheten. Sannheten om oss selv. Sannheten om at vi er syndere.  Paulus sier det slik til romerne: ”jeg kjente ikke synden uten ved loven.” Loven åpenbarte synden for meg. I møte med loven får jeg se hvem jeg er, og hvorfor jeg ikke kan komme til Gud. For dersom jeg kommer til Gud med min ”sannhet” vil Guds automatiske reaksjon være å støte meg fra seg. Guds automatiske reaksjon vil være vrede og dom, for han er hellig og rettferdig, og kan ikke være i nærheten av synd. Så jeg kan ikke møte Gud med min sannhet alene. Jeg trenger et element til. Det er dette elementet Jesus kom med. Han kom ikke bare med sannhet, men med nåde og sannhet. Når Nåde og sannhet møter hverandre blir det mektig. Vi trenger begge deler.

Omvendelse er først en erkjennelse av sannheten. En erkjennelse at jeg er en synder og trenger Guds nåde. Så tar jeg ”sannheten” min til Golgata, og lar sannhet møte nåde. Da får jeg FRED. Hør hvordan salmisten beskriver det: Salm 85:11 Nåde og sannhet skal møte hverandre, rettferd og fred kysse hverandre.

Når nåde og sannhet møtes, oppnår vi den rettferdighet som ikke ble gitt ved loven alene. Da får vi fred med Gud.

Men nåden kysser ikke løgn. Det er nettopp derfor sann bibelsk omvendelse er nødvendig. Vi må komme til sannhets erkjennelse. ”han som vil at alle mennesker skal bli frelst og komme til sannhets erkjennelse.” (1 Tim2:4)

Når vi ser og erkjenner hvem vi er, og går til Jesus med det og ber om tilgivelse, ja da møter sannhet nåde og resultatet er fred og rettferdighet.

Sorrow or joy

 Matt 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

 

Acts 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

 

Here we find two different men that were given a choice. The choices they made influenced their walk in life. One walked away sorrowful, while the other walked away joyful. All based on the choices they just made. The choices we make today will determine how we shall live tomorrow. Do you want a life of joy, or do you want a life of sorrow. Even though the answer seems simple, it is sometimes difficult choices we have to make. Because it is hard for the flesh to understand that when we hold on to the things we think will bring us joy, its actually robbing us for joy. The rich young ruler had great possessions. He had a lot of money. But still he had no joy. What Jesus had to offer in exchange to his possessions, didn’t seem too tempting. But for all of us that have experienced the life changing power of Jesus, we can testify that there is nothing this world can offer that can compare to the joy that comes out of a deep relationship with Jesus. 
Are you sorrowful, or joyful? If you are sorrowful, maybe you are holding on to things Jesus wants you to let go of? True blessings are not possessions. The greatest blessing of all is Jesus Christ!!

Living on another level

 Is 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

Gods ways are HIGHER than our ways. His ways is on another level. Down here on earth there are many different ways. Every way leads in different direction. But no matter what way you will choose in life, they all end up at the same place. If you start walking in one direction, and never turn, you will eventually end up at the same place. If you then turn to the left and start walking, you will still end up at the same place. No matter direction you go, you will still end up at the same place. This is because of gravity that drags you down and so when you have walked around the earth, you end up at the same place.

The same is true about your Spiritual life. No matter what life philosophy, religion, or valuesystem you choose to follow, you will still end up at the same place called hell. Its because something called sin that drags you down to this level, and make sure you end up at the same place. 

But Jesus is not just another direction. While Buddah says, go this way, and Muhammed says go this way, humanism says go this way, and your lifecoach says go this way. Jesus say I AM the way. And my ways are on another level. They are HIGHER than your ways.

 

God will not come down to our level, but he invites us up to his level. He will not be part of our plans, but he invites us to be part of his plans. When we walk in the Spirit, we are walking on another level. The Devil has no access to this level. That’s why he always is trying to tempt us back to the carnal level where he can attack us. If we walk in the Spirit, we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Jesus said it this way: The Son of man which IS in heaven… He was walking on earth, but at the same time he was in heaven. He was on another level. So he wants us to walk on another level. My friend was born again while in prison. This level told him he was bound, and in prison, while the other level told him he was free. This level might tell you that you are sick, while the other level tells you that you are healed. This level might tell you that you are worth nothing, while the other level tells you that you are valuable. This level might tell you there is no hope, while the other level tells you about the blessed hope we have. 

So we can choose. What level do we want to live on? This level with all its misery and attacks, or Jesus level where the enemy can’t reach us?

IF THAT IS YOU

 Matt 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

 

This is a very strange verse and statement. Try to put yourself in Peter’s situation. He is in a boat that is facing a huge storm. He has already seen and experienced Jesus calming a storm. He knew what Jesus was capable of. So wouldn’t the natural response be: If that is you, please calm this storm? If that is you, please give us a miracle. If that is really you, and you really are what you claim to be, then command the wind to be still. But instead, Peter said: If that is you, bid to come to you on the water. By this statement, Peter makes it clear that he is more interested in Jesus than he is in his miracle. If I can only have you, I don’t care about this storm I don’t worry about this situation. If I can only have you… If that is really you, please let me come to you!

 

What would you be most interested in? Jesus or the miracle? The truth of the matter is this. If you get Jesus, you also get your miracle. Seek ye first… When he had Jesus, Jesus also stilled the storm. 

BE OF GOOD CHEER

Matt 14:24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

 

What a message to receive when you are in a storm, not knowing if you will go down or not. Not knowing if you will survive the night. “Be of good cheer…” How could Jesus possibly tell them to be of good cheer, when they were in this desperate situation? There are two reasons why they could be of good cheer in this situation. 

1)    Jesus said: “It is I”. In the original text it says, “I am”. That is the very well known name of God from the Old Testament. Its like Jesus is saying, don’t worry, because I have ALL power in heaven and in earth. I am the “I am”. There isn’t any storm I cannot still, or any mountain I cannot move. 

2)    Now I am here. Not only am I able. Not only am I God revealed in the flesh. But now I am here with you.

We can be of good cheer in the midst of our storm, and in the midst of our problems, even before they are solved. As long as we know Jesus is with us, and as long as we know he is in our situation, we can be encouraged. 
Jesus said the same to his disciples in John 16:33 ”These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

You WILL have tribulation, but remeber when you face them that I have overcome the world, so… BE OF GOOD CHEER